TEST at the 2013 Christmas One of a Kind Show

At this years Christmas One of a Kind show (November 28th to December 8th) you'll be able to find more than a handful of TEST members so be sure to check them out when you head down to the show!

1. Avril Loreti

2. Candiware

3. Carolyn Draws

4. Crywolf Clothing

5. Domistyle Aprons

6. Inspired Art Prints

7. Kempton Jones

8. Kid Icarus

9. Handmades by Rovena

10. Simple Smiles

11. MagPrint

12. Westlake Designs
13. thunderpeep designs

TEST Etsy Page

Earlier this year, Etsy introduced Pages as a way to allow people to "Explore the marketplace through your favorite tastemakers". Think of Pages as curated collections by some of your favorite brands, magazines and blogs, full of their favorite Etsy finds.

Our friends at Etsy Canada were kind enough to invite us to take part in a little beta testing of new Pages for Etsy Teams! Some of you may even have noticed how we've been gathering your fabulous listings into a variety of collections for our very own TEST Etsy Page. Check it out!

Toronto Etsy Street Team on Etsy

We've been carefully curating collections to highlight our sellers for the TEST 1st Annual Christmas Marketplace -which will be here before you know it on December 14. You can see some of the fabulous wares which will be on offer, or shop the collection even if you cannot make it in person! We, of course, had to make a TEST ♥ Newbies collection for our talent newest members. The best things about winter are celebrated in our Winter Wonderland collection. Looking to prepare for the holidays? We've got you covered with TEST Gifts for Him, TEST Holiday Fashion, TEST Gifts for Babies, TEST Gifts for Kids, TEST Gifts for Her, TEST Gifts for the Crafty, TEST Gifts for the Home, TEST for the Pet Lover, TEST Stocking Stuffers, Santa's Nice List, and Santa's Naughty List (for your more naughty and adult gift buying needs). We also love our hometown and put together a TEST ♥ Toronto collection. Plus, if you're planning your winter wedding, check out our TEST Weddings collection!

T.E.S.T. Interview: Pepin D'Or

We hope to introduce you to all the great Etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 61^st in our series with Katharina of PepinD'Or.

Tell us about how you started creating jewellery.

I remember making dresses and accessories out of leftover fabric pieces and whatever else I could find for my dolls when I was about 10 years old. They didn’t really look like much but I always had fun playing dress up. My first wearable jewelry, I made about 10 years ago, after one of my dear girlfriends taught me the wire wrapping technique. I had seen some of the rings and earrings she had made and loved their uniqueness. I wanted to learn how to make jewelry like that right away. I fell in love with it. Then throughout my extensive travels to Colombia and Ecuador I learned more techniques such as beading, knitting with beads, macrame, the process of sanding, dyeing and polishing natural materials. Even some welding by some very talented artisans.

Describe your style.


Bold eco chic jewellery with a tribal yet urban touch.

What are your sources of inspiration?

I get my inspiration mainly from nature, places I have travelled to, their cultures and people. I am half German, half Ecuadorian. Two very contrasting countries in every way possible. I try to combine these two opposing cultures also in my jewellery. The urban modern western world and the tribal, ethnic more naive cultures of third world countries. One thing both have in common is the ecological awareness. Indigenous and tribal cultures that I have had the privilege to get to know, use natural fibers, seeds, shells, animal skins and other natural materials. I love the raw beauty of those materials. In Germany on the other hand, recycling, up cycling, repurposing of all sorts of materials are methods we are taught from a very young age. I try to express myself through my jewelry. By naming each piece I try to tell a story, even share what inspired me to make that particular jewellery piece.

What tools and techniques do you use to create jewellery?


I love experimenting with paint, resin and natural materials such as horn, seeds and nuts. I try to not use too many complicated tools... I guess the most complicated ones would be my drill. :) For the sanding I prefer to use sanding paper rather than an electrical attachment on my drill.

Did you receive any professional training?

My teachers have been artisans from all sorts of backgrounds but I never attended a school to become a jewellery designer.

How do you promote your products?


Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I also try to be a guest blogger and sponsor giveaways.

Other than Etsy, where do you sell your products?


Etsy is the only site I sell my jewellery at but I try to participate in as many shows as possible. I find it is important for potential buyers to be able to see, touch and try on my pieces, especially since a lot of people can't envision themselves wearing such bold pieces when looking at them online.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to Etsy?

Photography speaks 1000 words! Make sure you have some eyecandy. Quality control and customer care are very important components of being successful in this business. However the best advice I have ever gotten from a fellow artisan is to be patient, to create with care and love and to believe in yourself no matter what people might say.

Katharina has an upcoming show at the Leslie Fleamarket on December 15th.

Check out the other items available from Katharina in her Etsy shop! You can find more of her work on her Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Interviewed by Sophia of Affectionately Yours in November 2013 in Toronto.

Etsy News: Prototype team for Canada Post Shipping Labels!

Just in time for the holidays Etsy is announcing their plan to give Canadian sellers new shipping tools.  You can start testing out these tools and give your input into how they should work by joining a brand new Prototype Team for all sellers on Etsy who are based in Canada: Canada Post Shipping Labels! This Prototype will help Etsy test new shipping services for Canadian sellers, and has already been vetted by a small group of sellers in a closed Prototype.

If you join the team, you'll be able to purchase and print postage for your orders through Canada Post - right from your Etsy shop for domestic orders and methods for shipping to the US. On the domestic front, there are three shipping services to choose from: Priority, Xpresspost, and Expedited Parcel (similar to Regular Parcel but with added benefits!). When shipping to the US, you will also enjoy the following services: Xpresspost - USA, Expedited Parcel - USA, Tracked Packet - USA, Small Packet - USA Air, and Light Packet - USA. Most services are offered at a discount to sellers on Etsy compared to going to a Canada Post retail counter. Etsy are working hard to introduce more international options to the mix too, so stay tuned!


Any Canada-based seller can join the prototype here:
https://www.etsy.com/teams/19439/canada-post-shipping-labels-prototype.

Managing your postage needs on Etsy is one more way to help streamline your workflow, and Etsy are excited to hear your feedback on this new feature. Plus, if international shipping is on your mind, be sure to join now to take advantage of our international postage updates in the future. If you have questions, you can join the Protoype to get them addressed. Etsy is very keen to hear what you think!

Find out more on the FAQ on this Prototype Team

Looking for some advice on tackling shipping in general? Be sure to read our

TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 8 Shipping & Packaging

You can join our Etsy Newbie Bootcamp at any time, just drop us a line at TorontoEtsyST@gmail.com. Etsy itself published a great article called Canadian Shipping Demystified which is a good place to find a primer on shipping services available to Canadian Etsy sellers through Canada Post.

T.E.S.T. Interview: Keepsake

We hope to introduce you to all the great Etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 60^th in our series with Deborah of KeepsakeToronto.

What is your photography background?

I studied for a bachelor of Fine Arts where I majored in photography. This is where I discovered my passion for the traditional medium.

How much of your time is divided between Keepsake, and your fine art photography?

It's tough to not favour one over the other. Because of my background in photography, I already have quite an extensive body of work. Keepsake is only a year old, and there are more opportunities to sell Keepsake jewellery than there has been to sell art, so when I have free time I work on building the collection. I did promise myself that I would only create brand new Keepsakes once the photographic work has been printed and publicized; I only produce brand new subjects for Keepsake as fast as I create and publicize brand new subjects in my photographic art. Its a challenge, but it motivates me.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

It's tough trying to pursue a career as a photographer. Particularly in the arts industry. I have been searching for ways to make my product more marketable to the general public; I always thought my photographic art would translate well to jewellery. It took me a little while to figure out how to accomplish this, but sure enough, after some years, I figured it out. Keepsake is what is helping me overcome my challenge in trying to 'make it' in the arts. In other words, Keepsake is what has attracted more awareness to my art and vice versa. Both art vehicles to building awareness for each other. Its something that will be a continuous challenge, but it keeps me on my toes, and from getting bored. It makes success taste that much sweeter.:)

Was there a moment you can pinpoint that led you to work with the idea of capturing memories?

When I think back to my childhood, totally pre-photography, I just remember my father letting me borrow his little point-and-shoot camera when we went out on a walk. I was 8, and I was snap happy. The element of chance excited me. I took these photos, had no idea what they would look like other than what I saw through the view finder, but I had these moments collected and stored in a bank.
I've also always been fascinated by historical documentation. How is it possible for something to capture a reality and then display that reality so perfectly, in a future setting? It still blows my mind. Here, you can actually make time stand still.


For Keepsake, do your subjects mostly hold personal significance?

All of my subjects hold personal significance. These subjects caught my attention, and I felt the need to capture them and show them to the world. I am my artworks and my artworks are extensions of me.

What would you say is the main selling point of your products and how have you marketed that to your customers?

People have responded really well to the fact that my Keepsakes are miniature artworks. Most, if not all that have seen my work, mention how they have never seen this done before and how it is such an original idea. To hear that is such a compliment. All of my artwork (Keepsake and photographic works) are created the traditional way: either with my Nikon F2 or my Pentax point-and-shoot, 35mm film and a dark room. My pieces are mostly limited edition if not one-of-a-kind as well. Also, I have recently created a Keepsake vintages collection where I sought and source vintage jewellery from different places and re-purpose them with my fine art work. There is only one of each kind of these pieces. People have expressed the appeal to all of these aspects to them.

I find your product shots full of story, incredible depth and texture. Could you tell us what you use for the background?

Moving from South Africa to Toronto and acquiring all sorts of vintage furniture from late grandparents, my apartment is dressed with some of these pieces. The background you see in my product shots is of a hand carved vintage wooden table, I think from China. I feel it compliments my pieces really well.


Deborah's upcoming shows:

• Midnight MRKT: Nov. 22, 9 pm - 1 am, 461 King St. W, Toronto, ON
• Let It Snow Market: Nov. 23, 10 am - 6 pm & Nov. 24, 11 am - 5 pm, Annex Art Center, 1075 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON

Check out the other items available from Deborah in her Etsy shop! You can find more of her work on her website, fine art photography website,Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.

Interviewed by Christine of StoryFolk in November 2013 in Toronto.

Craft news: Vendor Queens

Vendor Queens, the new local weekend artist & collector market for handmade and vintage goods on Queen W, has its first market tomorrow. Vendors include T.E.S.T.'s own Sprouts Press Designs.

WHEN
REGULAR HOURS: 
Saturdays & Sundays, 10AM-7PM
(Nov. 16th to Dec. 29th)

THE VENDOR QUEENS INAUGURAL JUBILEE:
Thursday, November 21, 8PM-1AM

HOLIDAY NIGHT MARKET:
December 12, 8PM-1AM

QUEEN VICTORIA’S BOXING NIGHT:
December 26, 8PM-1AM

WHERE
1093 Queen Street West @ Dovercourt Road.

Craft News: Toronto East Rotary Club 4th Annual Arts and Crafts Sale

 

Check out the Toronto East Rotary Club 4th Annual Arts and Crafts Sale this Saturday at the Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave, 10 am to 5 pm!

Featuring T.E.S.T.'s own FabriArts, yourheartshaven, imwyred,

BaitedHook, BlissfulSew, CountyCupboard, Coydepot,

JacarandaDesigns, jackandwilladesigns, kemptonjones, lurearts, okkudesign, and magpiemo!